HTML target Attribute

Posted in HTML Tutorial

Updated on Jan 27, 2024

By Mari Selvan

👁️ 33 - Views

⏳ 4 mins

💬 1 Comment

Photo Credit to CodeToFun

🙋 Introduction

In HTML, the target attribute is a powerful tool used with hyperlinks to specify where the linked document should be displayed.

By default, when a user clicks on a link, the new document opens in the same browser window or tab.

However, the target attribute allows developers to control this behavior and determine whether the link should open in a new window, a new tab, or within a specific frame.

🎯 Purpose of target

The primary purpose of the target attribute is to define the browsing context for the linked document.

This attribute provides flexibility in how users interact with linked content, allowing developers to tailor the user experience according to their application's needs.

💎 Values

The target attribute accepts several values, each influencing where the linked document will be displayed. The commonly used values are:

_blank: Opens the linked document in a new, unnamed browser window or tab.
_blank.html
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```
<a href="https://www.example.com" target="_blank">Visit Example.com</a>
```
_self (Default): Opens the linked document in the same browsing context (same window or tab).
_self.html
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```
<a href="https://www.example.com" target="_self">Visit Example.com</a>
```
_parent: Opens the linked document in the parent frame, if the current document is inside a frame.
_parent.html
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```
<a href="https://www.example.com" target="_parent">Visit Example.com</a>
```
_top: Opens the linked document in the full, original window, breaking out of any frames.
_top.html
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```
<a href="https://www.example.com" target="_top">Visit Example.com</a>
```
framename: Specifies the name of the frame where the linked document should be displayed.
framename.html
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```
<a href="https://www.example.com" target="myFrame">Visit Example.com</a>
```

📄 Example

Let's explore a simple example of how to use the target attribute in an HTML hyperlink:

target.html

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<a href="https://www.example.com" target="_blank">Visit Example.com</a>

🧠 How it Works

In this example, the link to https://www.example.com will open in a new, unnamed browser window or tab due to the target="_blank" attribute.

🔄 Dynamic Values with JavaScript

The target attribute can also be dynamically set using JavaScript.

This is useful when you need to change the target based on certain conditions or user interactions. Here's a basic example:

target.html

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<script>
  // Dynamically set target for a hyperlink
  document.getElementById("dynamicLink").target = "_parent";
</script>

🧠 How it Works

In this script, the target attribute is set to _parent for a hyperlink with the id dynamicLink. This would cause the linked document to open in the parent frame if the current document is inside a frame.

🏆 Best Practices

Consider user experience when choosing the target attribute value. Opening links in new windows or tabs may affect the flow of navigation, so use it judiciously.
Be aware that some users may have pop-up blockers enabled, which can interfere with links that attempt to open in new windows.
Test your links across various browsers to ensure consistent behavior.